title: In search of the internal structure of the processes underlying interval timing in the sub-second and the second range: a confirmatory factor analysis approach.
abstract: One of the earliest accounts of duration perception by Karl von Vierordt implied a common process underlying the timing of intervals in the sub-second and the second range. To date, there are two major explanatory approaches for the timing of brief intervals: the Common Timing Hypothesis and the Distinct Timing Hypothesis. While the common timing hypothesis also proceeds from a unitary timing process, the distinct timing hypothesis suggests two dissociable, independent mechanisms for the timing of intervals in the sub-second and the second range, respectively. In the present paper, we introduce confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to elucidate the internal structure of interval timing in the sub-second and the second range. Our results indicate that the assumption of two mechanisms underlying the processing of intervals in the second and the sub-second range might be more appropriate than the assumption of a unitary timing mechanism. In contrast to the basic assumption of the distinct timing hypothesis, however, these two timing mechanisms are closely associated with each other and share 77% of common variance. This finding suggests either a strong functional relationship between the two timing mechanisms or a hierarchically organized internal structure. Findings are discussed in the light of existing psychophysical and neurophysiological data.
authors.affiliation: University of Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: thomas.rammsayer@psy.unibe.ch.
authors.forename: Thomas H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Rammsayer
authors.affiliation: University of Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stefan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Troche
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013998:Time Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Common timing mechanism; Confirmatory factor analysis; Distinct timing hypothesis; Interval timing; Second range; Sub-second range